AA pilot union rep dodges flying water bottle

[AA717driver]

The dude that had the water bottle thrown at him should have called the cops and pressed charges.

It's not over. TC

 

[PCL_128]

pk--You're right, we do need a national union. The first bylaw should be that no one who EVER worked for ALPA can be a rep.--national or local or occupy ANY job (lobbyist or lawyer, gopher or janitor) in the new union.

Yeah, great idea. Get rid of anybody that has any experience. I'm sure that would work out great. [/sarcasm]

The first thing that would happen if we ever do get a new national union is the carpetbaggers and shoeshine boys from Herndon would try to move in and start avoiding flying again. TC

Avoid flying? That's interesting. I wish somebody would have clued me in on how that works. Here I was flying a full schedule and spending all of my days off traveling around the country on ALPA business, not seeing my own home for weeks at a time, and I guess I could have just "avoided flying." [/more sarcasm]

 

[pkober]

Yeah, great idea. Get rid of anybody that has any experience. I'm sure that would work out great. [/sarcasm]

Avoid flying? That's interesting. I wish somebody would have clued me in on how that works. Here I was flying a full schedule and spending all of my days off traveling around the country on ALPA business, not seeing my own home for weeks at a time, and I guess I could have just "avoided flying." [/more sarcasm]

Thanks for diving on the sword.

You've never dropped a trip for union business, ever?

 

[PCL_128]

You've never dropped a trip for union business, ever?

Rarely. I can only remember three times: 2 times for MEC meetings, and once for the BOD last October which was a week-long meeting. The vast majority of work that ALPA reps do is on their own time on their days off. Usually the MEC Chairman is on full-time buy to run the union day-to-day, but the other reps only get periodic buys for special events, many of them that come up at the last minute without the ability to bid around them. Captain Frank Mayne, Delta ret., received the David Behnke award last year for his 15 years of continuous ALPA service, without having ever taken a single day of union buy. Don't assume that your reps are doing ALPA work just to get out of flying. Most of us actually want to keep flying, but it is very hard to do two full-time jobs while still having time for a family.

 

[pkober]

I appreciate the work my union reps do. I have two jobs, airline/ANG, so I know the challenge.

There have been plenty of union reps who have abused there position in the union. When they do that some poor reserve guy, who they represent, gets stuck with his trip.

Not all do that, however those idiots give the rest of the hard workers a bad name.

 

[Lear70]

There have been plenty of union reps who have abused there position in the union. When they do that some poor reserve guy, who they represent, gets stuck with his trip.

Not all do that, however those idiots give the rest of the hard workers a bad name.

Exactly.

I've seen some great union reps, and I've seen a lot who are just looking for a social outlet and a way to get paid at the same time for it.

You can usually tell which is which by how many disciplinary meetings they do and, more to the point, how often their fellow pilots ask for them to be there over someone else.

 

[PCL_128]

There have been plenty of union reps who have abused there position in the union. When they do that some poor reserve guy, who they represent, gets stuck with his trip.

Not all do that, however those idiots give the rest of the hard workers a bad name.

All very true. I've always said that there are three different kinds of people that do union work:

1. The guys that are looking for a fancy title and an ego boost.

2. The guys that are just looking for a way to use the union to best benefit themselves, whether it be with union leave abuse, or just directing the CNC to negotiate things that benefit themselves.

3. The guys that really are trying to help and do the right thing.


Although there are far too few of the #3s, and far too many of the 1s and 2s, the 3s make up the vast majority of the guys that step up for this kind of work.

 

[PCL_128]

You can usually tell which is which by how many disciplinary meetings they do and, more to the point, how often their fellow pilots ask for them to be there over someone else.

That's actually very true. The guys in it for the wrong reasons usually won't take the time to show up for disciplinary meetings, and the guys that really care end up picking up the slack and getting even more burned out.

 

[pkober]

However, if a pilot doesn't "work" for the union he is no less of a "good" union member.

You'lle know when a person is a good member if it comes down to a job action. If they talk the talk and walk the walk than okay. That's our one problem here at CAL. The scabs crossed the line once and probably will again, given the chance.

 

[PCL_128]

However, if a pilot doesn't "work" for the union he is no less of a "good" union member.

You'lle know when a person is a good member if it comes down to a job action. If they talk the talk and walk the walk than okay. That's our one problem here at CAL. The scabs crossed the line once and probably will again, given the chance.

But it's not just about not crossing a line. Certainly that's a big part of it, but there's a lot more to being a "good" union member than simply not crossing a picket line. Good union members read their MEC newsletter and emails. Good union members show up to at least some of the Local Council meetings. Good union members call or email their reps to let them know what they think. In short, good union members stay involved and educated in their own union. The overwhelming majority of ALPA members simply don't do these things. That's the biggest problem that ALPA faces.

 

[pkober]

It's usually the guys that you described as #1 above that are the first to condemn other union members.

 

[PCL_128]

It's usually the guys that you described as #1 above that are the first to condemn other union members.

Not really, but believe whatever you wish.

 

[CitationLover]

Not really, but believe whatever you wish.

curious, was the pinnacle council you represented by chance 128? if so, the login name now makes sense to slow ole me.

 

[PCL_128]

curious, was the pinnacle council you represented by chance 128? if so, the login name now makes sense to slow ole me.

It was indeed. Not too quick on the uptake, huh?

 

[CitationLover]

It was indeed. Not too quick on the uptake, huh?

now you sound like my wife......:erm: